A/N: Thank you for the wonderful reviews. I am so happy you are hanging in there with me. In this chapter, Red comes back to Lizzie, but will he stay? The struggle continues. I hope you'll like this chapter and will let me know if you do. Enjoy!

Chapter forty

After a sleepless night Red stood in front of Lizzie's house on the porch. In his mind he'd replayed their argument and the way it had ended multiple times. He'd heard her say she loved him and it taken all of his willpower not to walk back and take her in his arms. She'd finally spoken the words he'd longed to hear, but it hadn't convinced him. Had she said it as a last resort, just to get him to turn around? He wasn't sure. Nor did he know what he should think about the fact that she'd gone on a date with another man. What did that say about them and her? It always surprised him how she dealt with setbacks. Yet at the end of it all one thing stood out. He loved her and it was as simply and complicated as that. So here he was at her house. For now he was going to hang in there and see if Lizzie was finally going to really share herself with him. He hoped so because in a way he felt alone in his believe in them and their relationship. If he was really alone in this then he had to go.

Standing at the door he heard Jethro howling softly. It surprised him. He knocked, not wanting to just barge in and waited for her to let him in. Nothing happened though and his knocking had made Jethro howl harder. He was starting to get worried. Either Lizzie was gone and left her dog alone or something might be wrong with her. Judging by Jethro, who was now barking, he decided not to take any risks. He no longer had his key but he tried the door and it opened. Jethro was immediately was at his side circling around him. "Where's our girl?" He asked the dog. He seemed to understand him as he led Red to Lizzie. He spotted her immediately lying face down on the couch. With one look around it was obvious what was going on. Clearly she'd started drinking again. He ran his hand over his cheek and watched her. He was disappointed in her, but it also showed him what their argument had done to her. Maybe her health was more delicate than he'd realised. He turned to Jethro and decided to take care of him first. Lizzie would probably be out for a while longer. He gave the dog his food and took him out for a walk.

When he returned Lizzie was still out of it but had moved. She was now lying on her back on the couch with an arm flung over her head. Time to get her up. He first grabbed some advils and a glass of water for her.

"Elizabeth." Red called loudly knowing a soft voice wasn't going to work. She stirred but didn't wake up. He leaned over her and called out her name again. He'd however misjudged her reaction. She immediately sat up straight but with him leaning over her, her head collided with his chin. Both yelped in pain. Lizzie grabbed her head in both hands and Red rubbed his chin.

"Red?" Was he really there? Everything was in a daze and her head was pounding.

"Yes, I'm here." He confirmed. He took a seat in the chair, leaving some distance between them on purpose.

Lizzie grabbed the advils and the glass of water that she spotted on the table. Red watched her and though it might not be the right time, he was going to tell her off.

"Well done Elizabeth. You got so drunk that you passed out on your couch and forgot about Jethro. If you want to neglect yourself that's your choice, but don't neglect him. He deserves more." His words were harsh, but he was done with the careful approach.

Leaning back against the couch Lizzie stayed quiet. After he'd left she'd fallen apart and taken up her old habit of drinking away her problems. But it had never been this bad. She'd forgotten her Jethro, her sweet dog who was always by her side. She felt his wet nose at her hand and it made her eyes water. She immediately hugged him against her.

She couldn't look at Red though. She was surprised he was even there. She thought she'd lost him for good last night, thought she would never see him again. And now that he was here she didn't know what to do or think. What did this mean? Was he back for a final goodbye? Or was he back to stay? Maybe if she didn't have such a pounding headache she would see things clearer.

"Go take care of yourself. I'll clean up here and prepare something to eat for you." He said matter of fact.

She nodded and left him alone. Before she left the room though she turned her head to check if he was really there.

Seeing she needed his reassurance he nodded at her. "I'm really here."

She wiped a lone tear away and nodded. She hesitated before walking away. She still wasn't sure.

Once again he sensed what she needed. "I'll still be here."

She nodded again and finally left him alone in the living room. She returned a good fifteen minutes later and didn't spot him. She felt a slight panic. Had he left her or had it all been a dream?

"Don't panic. I'm here. I promised you I would be." He withheld a snarky comment, knowing it wouldn't do them any good. He decided that for today he would let things be. He would simply be with here and take care of her. "Come on, I've prepared you something to eat."

She followed him meekly into the kitchen. She didn't feel like eating but found he had prepared her a simple sandwich and knew she could eat that. She didn't know what to think of his behaviour. He acted as if their fight yesterday hadn't been that disastrous and she wondered what was going on. Was he fooling her on purpose? Was he playing with her? She hoped not because she couldn't take that. It would really break her. She felt a flutter of hope now and if he was going to crush it then she would truly be alone.

TBC...